Air Malta, pilots' union reach agreement
Air Malta and ALPA, the pilots' union, announced agreement on a new pay deal tonight, after talks which followed a flurry of sharply-worded statements between the two sides over the past days.
The airline said that after long but productive negotiations, agreement was reached early this morning on a new four-year collective agreement commencing 1st January 2012.
Both the CEO of Air Malta, Peter Davies and the President of ALPA, Dominic Azzopardi, commented favourably about the collective agreement and the restructuring phase which Air Malta is currently going through.
The agreement was negotiated within the same parameters as other agreements reached with the other unions and meets the requirements of the restructuring plan, the airline said. It is in line with the financial cost constraints of the company.
The agreement covers new conditions and pay for the pilots leading to greater productivity and efficiencies, Air Malta said. It did not go into specifics.
The Board of Air Malta and the pilot community will now have to approve the agreement in the coming days.
Yesterday afternoon - before the final round of talks - the airline said that the slight increase on overtime ALPA said it was negotiating with the airline translated to 35 per cent.
"Had the requests by ALPA really been what they are claiming, the collective agreement would have been signed weeks ago.
"If ALPA is ready to settle for a three per cent increase in basic salary and a slight increase in weighted units, not the 35 per cent they are asking for, the company invites them to come and finalise discussions about the collective agreement today."
Yesterday, passengers who were due to go to Manchester on an Air Malta flight at 6 p.m. were told at 7.20 p.m. that the flight had been cancelled.
They had originally been told the flight was delayed as attempts were being made to rectify a situation which saw pilots working to rule.
Another flight to Russia was also delayed.
Air Malta said later that it would be operating an extra flight from/to Manchester today (Saturday), leaving Manchester at 8.40 a.m. local time and arriving in Malta at 1.15 p.m.
KM146 will leave Malta at 2 p.m., arriving in Manchester at 4.40 p.m., local time.
The Airline Pilots Association, ALPA, registered a dispute with Air Malta last Friday.
It said that the new collective agreement was two years overdue and certain conditions in the expired agreement were "inadequate in today's circumstances". It ordered pilots to work under the terms of their existing collective agreement after the airline, it said, stopped talks on a new one. It had called for the airline's CEO to resign.
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Amanda Scott
Aug 25th 2012, 19:00
It's good to hear they managed to reach an agreement. What some people might be missing is that out in the world there are more possibilities for passengers to fly, Take for example www.fly.com.mt - with a click you can compare flights and hotels and get good deals or better ones than some airlines offer.
People tend to keep flying with the same airline because they have trust in it, even if they pay more but having disputes all the time is risking to harm the reputation with customers. Maybe not locals but foreign like me.
Peter Murray
Aug 25th 2012, 18:23
Si does this mean that Capt Azzopardi has now gone from villian to valiant?
Anthony Agius
Aug 26th 2012, 00:37
He was never a villlian even though he might have been portrayed as one!
Charles Zammit
Aug 25th 2012, 16:17
@ Ron Cassar . So is it not a pilots job ? So is his safety of aircraft & passengers part and parcel of his employment contract ? I agree that the right to strike is paramount . I also agree that a roadsweeper should have the right to a decent living wage same as any other ( Lowly !!! ) worker . What would happen if these people demanded high wages compareable to other countries ? I should think things like Council Tax & Council Rates would be introduced . Also if you think being a pilot is the epitome ! if you went on strike aeroplanes would not fly , if a dustman had to go on strike it would be a disaster . I have witnessed that type of strike , rats and other vermin flourished , dirt , smells and high risk of desease abounded , so whats the point ? The wage structure should fit with the countries financial and economic strength . Failing dissatisfaction one can always apply to work somewhere else
cesco di luigi
Aug 25th 2012, 17:24
I agree too...in a complex society such as is the one we live in, the country wouldn't survive without a host of different professions...nurses, power station employees, hotel staff, even telephone operators and bus drivers actually...yet I understand that each one throws his weight around..after all it is a jungle out there, market forces and so on.
Victor Vella
Aug 25th 2012, 13:29
Well done to the pilots. Keep the name of Air Malta high up. This government did all in its possible means to destroy Air Malta. But now it is realizing that without Air Malta, Malta will be isolated as it were in their times.
J. Borg
Aug 25th 2012, 13:44
........." government did all in its possible means to destroy Air Malta........." This is a shameful statement. That some decisions have been perhaps wrong is acceptable, but that one states that Government did all in its possible means to destroy Air Malta is ridiculous and unfounded. Mr Vella, can you provide some clear facts to justify your statement ?
Joseph John Camilleri
Aug 25th 2012, 17:28
Haven't you seen what happened and is happening to other airlines?
Victor Vella
Aug 25th 2012, 18:58
@J. Borg
Shameful for those who said:
Air Malta are `Ghasafar tac-comb`.
`There is no need to have any more a national airline`
That crap of an airline.
And shame on those who want to continue living in ignorance and lies.
John Vella
Aug 25th 2012, 12:52
I wonder if the deal includes the case of dominic azzopardi in milan being dropped.....
Toni Borg
Aug 25th 2012, 14:39
Good point!!
J Busuttil
Aug 25th 2012, 16:15
@ John Vella
If this is the case than the CEO and Chairman of Airmalta should resign asap.
mark borg
Aug 25th 2012, 16:55
no it includes when some minister use the privite jet ! and the RJ 700 plus azzurra air........
now stuff your jelousy JOHN !!!!!
John Vella
Aug 25th 2012, 18:13
@mark....i must admit mark you got me confused for a while there..... so please enlightened me, and tell me exactly what should i be jealous of?
Carmel Farrugia
Aug 25th 2012, 12:48
To all those whose comments below show that they are worried of the extra cost this agreement is going to cost the taxpayers of Malta. Here is my opinion: We are only three years away from Air Malta closing down. This is just throwing good money after bad and is similar to the last agreement between the Malta Government and the EU re the Drydocks. The last grant for eventual redemption. But the way Air Malta is structured there is no redemption. It will need to close down and reopen under different private owners. And this will happen after the agreement with the EU expires.
John Vella
Aug 25th 2012, 12:58
i agree 100%
cesco di luigi
Aug 25th 2012, 16:48
You are right and that's why they did the expensive re branding excercise...so that whoever buys the airline will have a new look at a free cost...one doesn't have to be Sherlock Holmes to notice certain things. 50 years of life in this country suffice for me to read between the lines of all wheelings and dealings that take place at a high level...just like Smart city...as if it wasn't so obvious that it was just a real estate deal.
Hugh Morris
Aug 25th 2012, 19:42
Pray Carmel - on what basis did you come to the conclusion that Airmalta will close down in 3 years? It is very foolish to make such statements when you obviously have zero information to go by.
J. Borg
Aug 25th 2012, 12:00
Government should through AirMalta's Board of Management tell us citizens how the funds obtained from the European Commission raised from EU citizen taxes intended for AirMalta's restructuring plan, will be used to pay Maltese pilots. What is the new deal? What is the new productivity level agreed....and at what Euro cost ?
Anthony Arpa
Aug 25th 2012, 11:54
Agreement reached is a good news to all .... But does this agreement includes that the flight delay caused by Alpa president will be dropped and forgotten.
Gable Porter
Aug 25th 2012, 12:53
Until the whole story with evidence comes out, I would not assume anything.
Hugh Morris
Aug 25th 2012, 19:43
I hope not - his abuse of power should be well and duly punished. Who does he think he is?
Ron Cassar
Aug 25th 2012, 11:52
Humbly may I forward my thoughts...now that dust has settled may i kindly invite all who sent ALPA and it's 140 or so members to hell yesterday please remember....
NEXT TIME when Airmalta pilots are mentioned please remember...
The captain and his crew (I salute the professionalism of my fellow cabin crew) who went beyond the call of duty in bringing back someone's father, brother and daughter from war torn Libya is also an ALPA member...Capt Philip Apap Bologna(the captain of the flight) was also reading and posting on these blogs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8I35uq-pZIM
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110223/local/air-malta-captain-describes-the-scene-in-tripoli.351615
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8I35uq-pZIM
NEXT TIME please remember…that the very pilots and crew who hit an estimated 150 birds right after takoff out of Malta brought the aircraft safely back with a windshield obscured with blood and bird innards was also reading and posting.
NEXT TIME please remember that…it may have been a mother of 3 or a father of 2 who was the captain who battled through a ‘grigalata’ at 2 in morning (just within the aircraft and crew limits) and safely brought your relatives home safe and sound.
NEXT TIME please remember to do same basic research and check how much a Czech pilot working for a CSA and a Portuguese pilot earns with TAP earns…both airlines are comparable…both operate from countries with almost identical GDP (or better PPP – Purchasing Power Parity) and both went through RESTRUCTURING before labeling Airmalta pilots as greedy.
NEXT TIME please remember to read between the spins generated…35% increase in the overtime rate is not a 35% increase in salary.
NEXT TIME please remember that Airmalta pilots’ professionalism in flight safety built over 35+ years makes or breaks airline’s and country’s economy.
MOST OF ALL may “I” remember and salute all my fellow colleagues at Airmalta…engineers (whose devotion towards keeping our aircraft safe is second to none), cabin crew, operations’ support staff, sales and administration…we weathered many storms together and kept flying safe. We kept flying the flag of our small nation…and hopefully for many years to come.
B. Cachia
Aug 25th 2012, 12:11
Ron, we're paying a heavy subsidy to Air Malta. There's no problem with people earning exotic salaries but not when they work for companies that have to beg the public for charity every few months.
J. Borg
Aug 25th 2012, 12:11
Mr Cassar, the cases you mention are part and parcel of the package of being a pilot. All professionals have similar situations to disclose so this is nothing new. Yes, you are flying the flag of our small nation with new an injection of EU funds.....paid by us tax payers. So do remember that too.... :)
John Vella
Aug 25th 2012, 12:31
almost made me shed a tear or two!
Ron Cassar
Aug 25th 2012, 13:00
@J.Borg...yes fully agree with you. It comes part and parcel. Next time you and I should remember that when other professionals in this country such as nurses, teachers resort to their civil right through collective action We respect that right.
Henry Farrugia
Aug 25th 2012, 13:00
Humbly may I remind you of the fireman, policeman, soldiers, lifeguards, ... , who risk there lives on a regular basis and are not paid a fraction of what these pilots get.
Ron Cassar
Aug 25th 2012, 13:08
Ps @J. Borg, I do remember it is our tax money in every time i fly. And also note where our tax money may have been utilized more fruitfully within the airline and beyond.
Ron Cassar
Aug 25th 2012, 13:15
@ Henry Farrugia...fully agree...every professional should get what he or she really merits. The professions you mention only recently got legal recognition to be represented in a union and so bargain for their real merited salary. This cliche "ghax dawk huma il-pagi f'Malta" has to stop.
Kevin Whitehead
Aug 25th 2012, 14:26
Well said my dear colleague.
Pity there are a few who do not understand as can be seen from the replies.
Colin Vassallo
Aug 25th 2012, 18:53
@Ron Cassar. Yes you have a right to strike. And a right to fight for whatever you think is rightfully yours. BUT, I have a right to get compensated for my holiday. Now Air Malta is playing hardball already. I don't suppose ALPA is going to cover my expenses, correct? Because that ticket I purchased is a contract, and Air Malta failed to get me from point A to B on that day as stated. And yes, I have a right to get my money back on the hotel, flights and other expenses I paid for.
There will be no Air Malta without pilots and crew. But remember, there will be no Air Malta and you won't have a job if it's not for us passengers. You don't just anger the management with strikes, you hit the customers.
I can honestly tell you that after these three upcoming paid-for reservations that I have, there's NO WAY in hell that I will be giving Air Malta another cent of my hard earned money. And I guess they can blame whoever called for yesterday's actions.
I'm a frequent traveler, and while I know the company won't go bankrupt just because I won't fly with them, I hope others customers do the same. And yes, I hope this god forsaken company eventually closes because unfortunately that's how people on this side of the world learn.
Tony Dalli
Aug 26th 2012, 03:02
@Ron Cassar,
"We kept flying the flag of our small nation"
It is rumored that you are doing so at the expence of other staff members.
Colin Vassallo
Aug 25th 2012, 11:37
I called for compensation. They said they can only refund my flight, the rest is up to me to fight with insurance. And refund will take up to 4 WEEKS to get issued.
Gilbert Busuttil
Aug 25th 2012, 12:02
At least you got some sort of reply. When my wife called they told her that she has to file for compensation through email. Shame on you. They even delayed the flight more...to the detriment of the passengers.
Gable Porter
Aug 25th 2012, 12:03
They did re schedule the flight to today If i am not mistaken.
Colin Vassallo
Aug 25th 2012, 12:22
Yes they did reschedule for today at 2PM. If I wanted to leave on Saturday I would have booked the Saturday flight in the first place. I wanted to go to see Man Utd play and the game was at 3PM. The air malta flight was at 2PM. It would have been too late. And that's a 20 hour or so late than the original flight.
Joe Scerri
Aug 25th 2012, 11:30
And how much is this going to cost us taxpayers?
Gilbert Busuttil
Aug 25th 2012, 11:13
Good...now decide between you who will compensate the passengers. Shame on you.
Philip Apap Bologna
Aug 25th 2012, 09:51
Common sense prevails, well done to all involved in reaching a positive conclusion.
B. Cachia
Aug 25th 2012, 09:44
Since the public is paying these salaries, it is only fair that they should be published, as is the case in all other public bodies in Malta and elsewhere.
T Mifsud
Aug 25th 2012, 11:28
B Cachia Air Malta is not a government department. And it is not a public company. Apart from workers I see no problem in having salaries, golden handshakes, bonuses being publicised because they are usually attributed to management which rotates every 3 years or so
Henry Farrugia
Aug 25th 2012, 11:38
Totally Agree. "It did not go into specifics" is not enough. We want the details of how our taxes are being spent. If it was for me I would cut there wage to half. 50K to 90K as wage !!! You should be kidding !!!
J. Borg
Aug 25th 2012, 12:05
Mr T. Mifsud you are correct in saying AirMalta is not a government entity. However AirMalta has been recently given EU funds to help in its restructuring exercise. Clearly some of these EU funds, paid from EU citizen taxes including Maltese taxpayers is now being used to finance pilots. So it will be good and ethical for AirMalta management to be transparent and to publicly announce the new working conditions. After all, Government (note Government!) announced the appointment of the foreign CEO and his package deal. So why not also announce the details of the new package paid to pilots? Why keep it hidden ?
B. Cachia
Aug 25th 2012, 12:05
@ T Mifsud: When Air Malta stops taking public subsidies and is no longer a government-owned company, then there will be no need for the public to know what salaries are being paid.
Eric Cordina
Aug 25th 2012, 14:23
Dear Mr. B. Cachia,
Ok let us publish the salaries. And then what?
andrew falzon
Aug 25th 2012, 14:37
@ J Borg
"However AirMalta has been recently given EU funds to help in its restructuring exercise. Clearly some of these EU funds, paid from EU citizen ........"
From where did you get this? The EU is not going to pay for mistakes done by past PN administrations my dear. The EU gave the maltese govt permission to subsidise the restructuring of KM through it`s own funds, the EU is not going to pay a single cent!!!
J. Borg
Aug 25th 2012, 19:24
@andrew falzon - you are indeed correct. The EC will not fork out funds directly. However the EC gave its blessing that the Maltese Government (not a private entity) subsidizes Air Malta with our tax money. So Mr Falzon, the end result is the same....our tax money is being used to subsidize Air Malta ...including ALPA's claims.
Peter Murray
Aug 25th 2012, 09:38
Why does it take industrial action before a resolution is found and why did it take more than 2 years to reach a new collective agreement after the previous one had expired?
Jay Oatmon
Aug 25th 2012, 11:10
To me it seems to be the 'bumbling through' method prevails in most cases where the government appoints the leaders.
Real pre-planning hardly exists, also probably there are no pre-tested procedures for various emergencies and eventualities (say an earthquake and 200 people injured - what is the plan, and if there is one, why don't the public know about it).
Anthony Agius
Aug 25th 2012, 08:14
Seems like the pilots union called airmalta's bluff and were right all along
Charles Micallef
Aug 25th 2012, 08:14
Common sense prevailed.......well done all, let us all look forward to a brighter and secured future for our national Airline......................and hopefully return to the days when we were all proud of Air Malta!
Peter Murray
Aug 25th 2012, 08:07
Why does it take indusrial action before any agreements are reached and why wait so long after the previous collective agreement had expired (2 years) before a new one was agreed?
Lino Busuttil
Aug 25th 2012, 08:02
We all hope a new phase of open communications and true implementation of a rescue plan ensue without more internal strife and dragging of feet. The airline needs all hands on deck and drastic quick measures to lower costs and hopefully not in the form of pompous colours or skypark head offices. Investment in its equipement was good and investment in its workforce a must.
I empathize with the passengers who had to change traveling plans inconveniently and unexpectedly. Those things should not happen if management and unions have an established good link of communication.
George Cutajar
Aug 25th 2012, 07:36
Well done to all involved. Good sense has finally prevailed in the interests of Air Malta, ALPA but above all in our interests.
Josephine Muscat
Aug 25th 2012, 06:50
Air Malta is a commercial company. Whilst they do not need to divulge the specifics would someone tell me whether the ALPA President s Milan case will still be investigated or?d
J. Borg
Aug 25th 2012, 12:08
Ms Muscat - Air Malta is a commercial company run by a board of Management appointed by Government, including the CEO whose financial details have been made public. Also, Air Malta has 'through Government' requested substantial EU funds to help with its restructuring. Clearly some of these EU funds are being used to compensate pilots. Given that EU funds are paid by EU taxpayers like you and me, I disagree with you that they do not need to divulge the specifics. Why not be transparent ???
Tony Dalli
Aug 25th 2012, 04:55
Can anyone please inform the public (that is the owner) the added costs as a consequence to this industrial action. Manchester flight cancelled and to be replaced by an extra flight. Moscow delayed. What compensation was given to the clients? Literally rule of the jungle.
A. Galea
Aug 25th 2012, 04:16
Glad they reached an agreement. Happened to be at the airport and really pitied baffled passengers who were requesting help at the Air Malta stand. Wasnt a pretty scene and neither were the comments left on the Air Malta facebook page.
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